Mounting device for a light fixture globe

ABSTRACT

A base for mounting a globe having an opening therein to a light fixture. The base has a body portion with a bottom wall a cylindrical side wall extending above the bottom wall. A retaining plate which fits within the opening of the globe is resiliently connected to the base by screws passing through the bottom wall of the base so that as the screws are tightened the retaining plate clamps the globe between the retaining plate and the cylindrical wall of the base.

United States Patent Patry 51 Nov. 28, 1972 [54] MOUNTING DEVICE FOR A LIGHT 1,80l,l l3 4/ 1931 Schweiker ..240/143 FIXTURE GLOBE 2,918,569 12/1959 McCormack ..240/128 1 993 385 3/1935 Saaf ..240/143 721 t.LeoR.Pat Mdm, l 1 or n e a Ohm 723,799 3/1903 wlshan et a1. ..240/135 [73] Assignee: Adjusta-Post Manufacturing Com- P ron, Ohio Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews [22] Filed: June 15 197 Assistant Examiner--Monroe H. Hayes Attorney-Oldham & Oldham [21] Appl. No.: 153,252

[57] ABSTRACT [52] C1. ..240/128, 240/ 134, 240/ 135, A base f mounting a l b having an opening 240/143 240/144 therein to a light fixture. The base has a body portion [51] 1.1L Cl ..F21\! 17/06 with a bottom n a Cylindrical side wall extending Fleld Of above the bottom A i i g plate which fits 2 0/146 150 within the opening of the globe is resiliently connected to the base by screws passing through the bottom wall [56] References C'ted of the base so that as the screws are tightened the UNITED STATES'PATENTS retaining plate clamps the globe between the retaining plate and the cylindrical wall of the base. 3,184,595 5/1965 Hooper ..240/134 X 3,362,670 l/l968 Sclafani ..240/128 X 6 Clains, 5 Drawing Figures The present invention relates to lighting fixtures of the type in which a light bulb is surrounded by a-globe. Such fixtures are widely used in outdoor lighting.

In a globe typelighting fixture, the globe must be removable so that the light bulb can be removed and replaced when necessary. In many conventional fixtures the globe is provided with a base flange and the mounting base has a cylindrical wall which surrounds such flange. Set screws are threaded through the cylindrical wall to engage and retain the globe in position. Since the heads of the set screws protrude from the cylindrical wall they detract from a trim stylish appearance of the fixture. Also, the screws are directly exposed to the elements when the lighting fixture is used outdoors and, as a result of rusting or corrosion, the screws may become very difficult to turn. The set screws are also easily lost.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved globe mounting device for a lighting fixture which retains the' globe securely in place while permitting its easy removal when desired.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a globe mounting arrangement in which the mounting screws are concealed and are protected from the ele ments.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a globe mounting arrangement for a lighting fixture in which the mounting screws are captive and, therefore, cannot be lost.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a globe mounting arrangement for a lighting fixture which has a trim, stylish appearance, which may be economically manufactured, and which has excellent weather and rust resistant properties.

The above and other objects of the invention which will become apparent in the following detailed description are achieved by providing a mounting arrangement for a lighting fixture globe which includes a cylindrical base having an upwardly projecting wall in which a flanged or base portion of the globe surrounding an opening therein is received and a flat plate on which the lamp socket may be mounted, a retaining plate adapted to fit within the globe and to engage the inner surface of the globe adjacent the opening therein, screws extending through the flat plate of the base and being captive with the retaining plate, and coil springs for urging the retaining plate away from the flat plate. Tightening of the screws pulls the retaining plate toward the flate plate of the base thereby clamping the globe between the retaining plate and the cylindrical wall of the base.

For a more complete understanding of the invention and the objects and advantages thereof reference should be had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a lamp assembly employing the mounting base of the present invention;

FIG. 2. is a sectional view taken along theline 2-2 of FIG. I with the globe removed;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 and showing the globe mounting device in both its sealed and released position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the screw and spring interconnection between the flat plate of the base and the retaining plate.

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a lighting fixture 10 which includes a base 12 on which is mounted a lamp socket 14, a light bulb l6, and a transparent or translucent dome 18 which surrounds the light bulb l6 and the socket 14. The globe 18 may be of glass or any suitable plastic material, and has a bottom opening 19 therein. The lighting fixture 10 is supported by a post 20 or by other suitable means, such as a bracket.

The mounting base is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 2-5. The base 12 has a cylindrical wall 22 and a flatwall or floor 24. The floor 24 has a central hole 26 through which the wiring 28 passes to the lamp socket l4 (omitted from FIGS. 2 and 3 for clarity). The cylindrical wall 22 extends above the floor 24 as shown. It also extends below the floor to provide an apron 30. The mounting post or bracket 20 extends upwardly to the lower surface of the floor 24 and the mounting base 12 is secured to this post or bracket 20 by any suitable means, for example, by means of set screws 32 which are threaded through the apron portion 30 of the base. A cover plate 34 may be provided at the lower end of the apron, being secured by the screws 36.

A flat retaining plate or ring 38 which is of generally annular configuration but has cut off segments 40 on opposite sides of the globe to enable it to be inserted into the opening 19 is positioned above the floor 24. At diametrically opposite points on the retaining plate 38 there are provided threaded bosses 42 which project downwardly toward the base floor 24. The bosses 42 may be separate members suitably secured-to the plate 38 or be formed integrally with the plate as desired. Screws 44 are threaded upwardly through holes in the base 24 to engage the threaded portions 46 of the bosses 42. The upper portions of the bosses 48 are not threaded and, after the screws 44 have been installed the end-most portion of the threads are deformed or peened over as indicated at 50, to prevent the screw from being removed from the boss 42. A coil spring 52 surrounds each of the bosses 42 and screws 44 to normally urge the retaining plate 38 upwardly away from the floor 24 of the base 12. The cover plate 34 at the lower end of the base 12 is preferably provided with openings 54 aligned with the screws 44 so that the screws may be tightened or loosened without removing the cover plate 34. A series of upwardly projecting lugs 60 are provided on the floor 24 and serve to engage the retaining plate 38 when it is in its lower-most position. The screws 44 are of any suitable length.

FIG. 3 illustrates clearly the operation of the globe retaining device. The right half of FIG. 3 illustrates the retaining plate 38 in its upper or open position, with the screws 44 unthreaded as far as possible from the bosses 42, that is, until the deformed portion 50 of the screw threads contacts the threaded or tapped section of the boss. The coil springs 52 urge the retaining plate 52 upwardly so that a large opening is provided between the edge of the retaining plate and the upper end of the cylindrical wall 22. The lamp globe may now be easily positioned onto the base 22 with the flange or edge portion 56 of the globe being positioned below the retaining plate 38 and the globe resting on the beveled edge 58 at the upper end of the cylindrical wall 22. the external diameter of the globe flange 56 is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the wall 22 to permit the flange to be received within the mounting base 12. The screws 44 are now tightened to pull the retaining plate 38 toward the floor24. This serves to clamp the flange 56 of the globe between the outer circumference of the retaining plate 38 and the beveled edge 58 of the cylindrical wall 22. The lugs 60 serve to prevent the retaining plate 38 from being overly tightened and possibly cracking the lamp globe 18. The flange or edge portion 56 of the globe may be of any suitable shape for engagement by the positioning means provided.

When it is necessary to remove the globe, the screws 44 are loosened to permit the retaining plate 38 to move upwardly allowing the globe to be removed. Since the ends of the screws are deformed, the screws cannot be fully loosened from the bosses 42 and thus all parts of the retaining fixture are held together even when the fixture is open to remove the globe. It will also be noted that screws 44 are fully concealed and do not detract from the appearance of. the mounting device 12. Further, the screws are protected from the elements, being positioned below the globe l8 and the floor 24 and within the apron portion 30 of the base 12.

While only the best known embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail herein it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the true scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a light fixture of the type having a socket, a light bulb received in the socket, and a globe surrounding the light bulb and having a flanged opening, an improved base, comprising:

a flat floor portion mounting the socket;

an annular wall projecting above the floor portion at the periphery thereof, the internal diameter of the annular wall being greater than the external diameter of the globe flange;

a retaining plate adapted to pass through the opening of the globe and to engage the inner surface of the globe flange;

a plurality of screw means passing upwardly through floor portion to engage theretaining plate whereby tightening of the screw means draws the retaining plate toward the floor portion to clamp the globe between the retaining plate and the upper end of the annular wall; spring means biasing the retaining plate away from the floor portion; and threaded tubular bosses on the retaining plate extending downwardly therefrom, the screw means being threaded into the bosses and the upper ends of the screw means being deformed to prevent complete removal of the screw means from the bosses.

2. The light fixture base according to claim 1 further including a plurality of upwardly projecting lugs on the floor portion for engaging the retaining plate to limit movement of the retaining plate toward the floor portion and prevent excessive stress on said globe.

3. The light fixture base according to claim 1 wherein the annular wall projects below the floor portion, and a cover plate is attached to the lower end of the wall to form a finished appearing product.

4. The light fix ure base according to claim 1 wherein the bores of the bosses are threaded only on the lower portion thereof, the deformed portion of the screw means passing freely through the unthreaded portion of the bore.

5. A light fixture base for a globe type fixture, comprising:

a floor portion means;

an upwardly projecting wall means at the periphery of the floor portion means;

an annular retaining plate adapted to fit within the opening of a globe and to engage the inner surface of the globe adjacent the opening;

at least two screws projecting upwardly through the floor portion means and operatively engaging the retaining plate whereby the retaining plate is drawn toward the floor portion means to clamp the globe between the retaining plate and the wall when the screws are tightened; biasing means to urge the retaining plate away from the floor portion;

means to secure the base to a support; and

a boss on the retaining plate for each screw, each boss having a through bore which is threaded only along the lower portion of its length, the uppermost end of each screw being deformed to prevent the screw from being completely removed from the boss.

6. The light fixture base according to claim 5 wherein the retaining plate has parallel reduced diameter outer edge portions adjacent each of the bosses to facilitate insertion of said annular retaining plate into the globe UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFECATE 0F CORRECTION Patent NO. 4,368 Dated Nov. 28, 1972 Inventor(s) Leon Patry It is certified that: error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Abstract line 3 .v after "wall, insert and Column 2, line 60, change "52" (second occurrence) to 38 Column 2, line 64, after "base" change "22" to l2 I Signed and sealed this 27th day of November" 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FI..ETCHER, JR. RENE D. TEGTI'EYER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents 'ORM PO-OSO 10-69) USCOMM-DC 6037e-P6q u s ooveunmzm PRINTING OFFICE: 1959 o-3ee-i3a 

1. In a light fixture of the type having a socket, a light bulb received in the socket, and a globe surrounding the light bulb and having a flanged opening, an improved base, comprising: a flat floor portion mounting the socket; an annular wall projecting above the floor portion at the periphery thereof, the internal diameter of the annular wall being greater than the external diameter of the globe flange; a retaining plate adapted to pass through the opening of the globe and to engage the inner surface of the globe flange; a plurality of screw means passing upwardly through floor portion to engage the retaining plate whereby tightening of the screw means draws the retaining plate toward the floor portion to clamp the globe between the retaining plate and the upper end of the annular wall; spring means biasing the retaining plate away from the floor portion; and threaded tubular bosses on the retaining plate extending downwardly therefrom, the screw means being threaded into the bosses and the upper ends of the screw means being deformed to prevent complete removal of the screw means from the bosses.
 2. The light fixture base according to claim 1 further including a plurality of upwardly projecting lugs on the floor portion for engaging the retaining plate to limit movement of the retaining plate toward the floor portion and prevent excessive stress on said globe.
 3. The light fixture base according to claim 1 wherein the annular wall projects below the floor portion, and a cover plate is attached to the lower end of the wall to form a finished appearing product.
 4. The light fixture base according to claim 1 wherein the bores of the bosses are threaded only on the lower portion thereof, the deformed portion of the screw means passing freely through the unthreaded portion of the bore.
 5. A light fixture base for a globe type fixture, comprising: a floor portion means; an upwardly projecting wall means at the periphery of the floor portion means; an annular retaining plate adapted to fit within the opening of a globe and to engage the inner surface of the globe adjacent the opening; at least two screws projecting upwardly through the floor portion means and operatively engaging the retaining plate whereby the retaining plate is drawn toward the floor portion means to clamp the globe between the retaining plate and the wall when the screws are tightened; biasiNg means to urge the retaining plate away from the floor portion; means to secure the base to a support; and a boss on the retaining plate for each screw, each boss having a through bore which is threaded only along the lower portion of its length, the uppermost end of each screw being deformed to prevent the screw from being completely removed from the boss.
 6. The light fixture base according to claim 5 wherein the retaining plate has parallel reduced diameter outer edge portions adjacent each of the bosses to facilitate insertion of said annular retaining plate into the globe. 